Price tags clearly displayed at Ramadan stalls.
Ibrahim busy making roti canai.
Arshad prepares an order of ‘Roti John’.
Zakaria Alias
Kasim Mana
SIBU: Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) checks have revealed good compliance among traders at Ramadan bazaars here on price tags.
When contacted yesterday, MDTCC Sibu branch head Kasim Mana disclosed that there were no cases thus far of traders not displaying price tags.
“I believe this is mainly due to our constant reminders and guidance,” Kasim told The Borneo Post.
He cautioned that offenders could be slapped with a hefty RM50,000 compound for not displaying price tags.
On infringing of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, he said upon conviction, an individual is liable to a fine of RM100,000 or three years imprisonment or both.
“While for subsequent offences, the fine is RM200,000 or five years’ jail, or both.
“As for corporate bodies, the fine is RM500,000 and RM1 million for subsequent offences,” he said.
Meanwhile, at a Ramadan bazaar at Sibu Town Square, roti canai seller Ibrahim Rajali, 39, said he maintained his prices despite higher overheads.
“Our business is still sustainable but if compared with last year, there is a slight drop,” Ibrahim noted.
He figured that this was due to the emergence of more Ramadan bazaars here.
“This year there are more Ramadan bazaars which is good in the sense that it reduces traffic congestion.
“But if there are more choices, the crowd will spread out and this is perhaps why our business drops slightly this year,” he said.
Nevertheless, he was optimistic that with better weather there would be more people frequenting the place.
Ibrahim, who hails from Daro, operates a stall in a coffee shop on normal days.
Arshad Dawet, 50, known for his mouth-watering ‘Roti John’ snack, on the other hand, said he was compelled to adjust prices slightly this year because of higher overheads.
He lamented that prices of bread and other raw materials had gone up.
Customer Zakaria Alias, 35, said he was not overly concerned with the minimal increase in some food items.
He noted some stalls maintained their prices while others adjusted theirs upwards slightly.
Zakaria reckoned higher overheads might be the culprit.
There are 63 stalls at the Ramadan Bazaar in Sibu Town Square Phase 2, which is organised by Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Sibu branch.
Other bazaars are located at Wisma Sanyan, Bandong Walk, Masjid An Nur, Permai, Salim Farley, Salim Sing Kwong and Rascom Camp, Mile 10 as well as Sibu Jaya.